ISRO's successful key manoeuvre propels Aditya-L1 towards its final destination

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully performed the Trans-Lagrangean Point 1 Insertion (TL1I) manoeuvre, propelling India's first solar observatory, Aditya-L1, on its 110-day journey toward the Sun-Earth L1 point. This accomplishment marks ISRO's fifth consecutive success in transferring an object on a trajectory toward another celestial body or location in space.

“Off to Sun-Earth L1 point! The Trans-Lagrangean Point 1 Insertion (TL1I) manoeuvre is performed successfully. The spacecraft is now on a trajectory that will take it to the Sun-Earth L1 point. It will be injected into an orbit around L1 through a manoeuvre after about 110 days,” ISRO said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Aditya-L1's mission holds great promise for scientific discovery, as it aims to provide uninterrupted observations of the Sun from its position in a halo orbit around L1 of the Sun-Earth system, situated approximately 1.5 million km from Earth. This unique vantage point will enable Indian scientists to gain valuable insights into the center of our solar system.

The spacecraft is now set on a trajectory that will take it to the Sun-Earth L1 point, where it will be placed in orbit, marking a significant milestone in India's space exploration endeavors. In the coming months, ISRO will conduct additional maneuvers to position Aditya-L1 for its mission of studying various aspects of the Sun for at least the next five years.